Stay tuned for more! New series of music streamer/servers
- Thread starter pearson1977
- Start date
The Stream series has a similar design principle to the ZEN/ZEnith Next-Gen in terms of digital output modules and a user-accessible SSD bay, and also gets the Real Time Kernel first introduced in those devices. The ZEN/ZEnith Next-Gen still have several advantages that make them perform better for a few reasons:
- More CPU cores meaning AudioCore ability, not to mention faster processing coupled with more RAM.
- Two SSD drives, one internal and one external. Stream series has one external only.
- PreciseAudio board is much more heavily customised and tuned
- NGaN power regulation
But nonetheless, the Stream series still takes the modular philosophy and brings them down to much lower price points so make no mistake, these are the direct successors to the Mk3 range. Obviously the most notable omission is the built-in CD drive, but like the ZEN Next-Gen this can still be done using an external USB optical drive. The actual ripping engine and software for it is still the same as before.
Hi @Stephen Healy
Now it would be interesting to get complete information about Stream 3.
• What is the difference compared to
Zenith mk3.?
• Performance difference Phoenix USB reclocker vs the built-in USB reclocker.?
• What is the difference between the
different power supplies Zenith mk3 vs
Stream 3.?
• How big is the increasing difference in
sound quality between,.Zenith mk3 vs
Stream3.?
• What is the price of a Stream 3 with
1TB SDD,.to compare against an
equivalent Zenith mk3 with 1TB SSD.?
Other things that differentiate Zenith mk3 from Stream 3.?
Now it would be interesting to get complete information about Stream 3.
• What is the difference compared to
Zenith mk3.?
• Performance difference Phoenix USB reclocker vs the built-in USB reclocker.?
• What is the difference between the
different power supplies Zenith mk3 vs
Stream 3.?
• How big is the increasing difference in
sound quality between,.Zenith mk3 vs
Stream3.?
• What is the price of a Stream 3 with
1TB SDD,.to compare against an
equivalent Zenith mk3 with 1TB SSD.?
Other things that differentiate Zenith mk3 from Stream 3.?
There's a lot of topics to cover there so will reply tomorrow when there is a bit more time!
...
.Just to add to Peder’s questions, as someone who owns a Zenith MK3 with USB Re-clocker… where does that leave the most appropriate next upgrade step?
Would it be a move to Stream 3 with built in USB Re-Clocker? Or would it be better to make the jump to Zen NG?
Apologies in advance I am about 3 weeks into the Innuos world via a Pulsemini. Is the STREAM1 on a higher sound quality than the Pulse mini?
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Innuos mentions on their website page that you can use LSP1 with Pulsemini.
Backwards Compatibility for Upgrades
Already own a ZENmini Mk3 or PULSEmini? The LPS1 is fully backwards compatible, offering an effortless upgrade path to elevate the performance of your existing Innuos setup.
I currently have a Pulse (just recently replaced the Phoenix USB with an AES cable which sounds better with my DAC -- Bricasti M1S2).
I have been evaluating the Zen NG with AES/EBU (better with my DAC than USB) versus the Aurender N20 (also with AES). The Stream3 lands right in the middle of my decision. Sound quality and price will be the two primary points in my evaluation. I expect to make my decision in early June. Looking at a new Zen NG with 2 TB and AES/EBU and a used Aurender N20. Will also consider a new Stream3. Having the option to control the SSD memory is a plus for the Stream3 and N20. I probably would have already purchased the Zen NG if the memory was user installed versus factory.
Decisions...decisions.
I have been evaluating the Zen NG with AES/EBU (better with my DAC than USB) versus the Aurender N20 (also with AES). The Stream3 lands right in the middle of my decision. Sound quality and price will be the two primary points in my evaluation. I expect to make my decision in early June. Looking at a new Zen NG with 2 TB and AES/EBU and a used Aurender N20. Will also consider a new Stream3. Having the option to control the SSD memory is a plus for the Stream3 and N20. I probably would have already purchased the Zen NG if the memory was user installed versus factory.
Decisions...decisions.
Can I continue using my Zenith as a ripper/NAS to the Streamer3/Zen NG cross the network/or USB attached?
I’m a happy owner of a Zenith mk3/phoenix usb reclocker and would like to upgrade SQ to either the stream3 or the zen NG + the Phoenix board. Challange is; I have 3000+ ripped CD’s stored on the Zenith and appreciate this kind of media compared to streaming only. As the marked for usb optical drive is limited, I would like to reuse my existing zenith as a ripper and backup
I’m a happy owner of a Zenith mk3/phoenix usb reclocker and would like to upgrade SQ to either the stream3 or the zen NG + the Phoenix board. Challange is; I have 3000+ ripped CD’s stored on the Zenith and appreciate this kind of media compared to streaming only. As the marked for usb optical drive is limited, I would like to reuse my existing zenith as a ripper and backup
Just to clarify, the ZEN NG can indeed be ordered with no storage and you can fit your own M2 module, just like on the new Stream series. In fact, the Next-Gens have a further SSD slot internally for PCI-E type (this is the one that is easier to be factory-fitted)
Certainly you can, in fact PULSE series was often considered an upgrade for users who already had, for example, a ZENmini Mk3 and were happy to keep it as a ripping NAS but wanted better sound - you could add a PULSE or PULSAR as an endpoint and have that do the streaming instead for better sound. The same principle is true for Stream series; you can keep your Mk3, if you wish, as an integrated ripping NAS, and consider a Stream series as a better-sound 'player' that pulls audio from your Mk3.
Or, if you are comfortable using a USB optical drive or perhaps feel like you've done all the ripping that you are going to, then get a Stream series with internal storage and migrate your library into that.
Many options!!
Hmm. you could do that but you manually have to move a copy of each rip from the ZENith over to the Stream3 so there is more management involved. It could be easier to actually have the storage in the Stream3 treated as a 'NAS backup' destination, so after you have ripped some more CDs on the Mk3 all you need to do is run another backup to update the changes, and those new albums will get exported over into the Stream.
Thanks Stephen!
I missed that when researching. My dealer failed to mention it too when we were discussing options. He suggested the optional user added memory was only available with the 16TB memory option. Either he was confused, or I was. Maybe both. I will go back to him and have another discussion regarding the ZEN NG relative to the STREAM3.
Good excuse to go back!
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